SOUND TIGERS LOSE TO WOLF PACK, 4-1

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers lost to the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday night by a score of 4-1. Mike Keenan scored his first career American Hockey League goal, but it was the only time the Sound Tigers beat Wolf Pack goaltender Scott Stajcer, who made 27 saves on 28 Sound Tigers shots. With the loss, the Sound Tigers fall to 4-8-1-1 on the season.

The Wolfpack opened the scoring early, putting home the opening goal with less than a minute gone by in the contest. Danny Kristo hit Kyle Jean with a pass as Jean streaked into the Sound Tigers zone, giving Jean a clear break on Sound Tigers goaltender Anders Nilsson. Jean deked to the backhand and went top shelf to give Hartford a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, a missed shot from a Sound Tigers defenseman led to a 2-on-1 the other way for Hartford. Ryan Bourque sent a saucer pass through the slot to Andrew Yogan, who finished to make it 2-0 Wolf Pack.

Hartford got off to a similar start in the second period as they did in the first, putting home a goal just over a minute into the frame. With the Wolf Pack controlling the puck in the left corner, Marek Hrivik sent a puck out in front for Kristo, who was waiting at the top of the crease. Kristo got his stick on the puck and buried it for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

The Sound Tigers got one back later in the second period as they converted on one of their six power-play chances of the game. Kirill Kabanov sent the puck to Johan Sundstrom in the left circle. Sundstrom and Keenan, who was set up at center point, played pitch-and-catch until the Dartmouth product blasted a one-timer through traffic and past Stajcer for first and only Sound Tigers goal of the game.

The Sound Tigers had their chances, however, and none better than the early stages of the third period when Darroll Powe was sent off for a high-sticking double minor. Before the first two minutes was up, Hartford was whistled for a delay of game penalty, giving the Sound Tigers a full two-minute 5-on-3 opportunity. Shot after shot whistled high and wide of the net as the Wolf Pack killed off both penalties and never surrendered another goal.

As time wound down in the third, the Wolf Pack added a fourth goal on a scramble in front of Nilsson, as Oscar Lindberg got to the loose puck and fired it home to give Hartford a 4-1 lead.

The Sound Tigers return to action Friday night in Providence before heading to Worcester on Saturday. They will next play at home against the St. John’s IceCaps next Sunday at 3:00 p.m.